Amritsar, January 15, 2026: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday appeared before Sri Akal Takht Sahib, bowing with humility and reaffirming his complete faith in the supreme temporal authority of the Sikhs. Walking barefoot while reciting prayers, the Chief Minister devoted the day to the Takht Sahib and presented his clarification before the Jathedar at the Akal Takht Secretariat.
Interacting with the media after the appearance, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said he had come in compliance with the directions issued by the Jathedar Sahib and had placed his position as a humble Sikh. “Sri Akal Takht Sahib is the supreme authority for the entire Sikh community, and it is supreme for me as well. I have neither the audacity nor the stature to challenge its authority,” he said.
The Chief Minister stated that his explanation was recorded and that further action would be decided after consultations among the Singh Sahibans. He said his appearance before Sri Akal Takht Sahib had given him “inner peace, contentment, and satisfaction,” adding that whatever decision or directive is issued by the Takht would be accepted with utmost respect and humility.
Rejecting suggestions of any confrontation between the Punjab government and Sri Akal Takht Sahib, CM Mann termed such claims as baseless and misleading. “There is no question of challenging or weakening the authority of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. The responsibility of my government is clearly defined—to work for the progress of Punjab and the welfare of its people,” he said.
Referring to the complaints submitted to the Takht, the Chief Minister said he had placed between 25,000 and 30,000 pages of representations reflecting public concerns regarding the functioning of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). “Institutions are supreme, but individuals leading them can err. Those found guilty of wrongdoing deserve no leniency,” he said.
Clarifying the constitution of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to trace missing saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann asserted that the move was not political. “The sole objective of the SIT is to trace the missing saroops so that they are not misused. Once traced, all action will strictly follow Sikh Rehat Maryada,” he said, adding that police have been instructed not to enter religious premises.
The Chief Minister also sought the intervention of Sri Akal Takht Sahib to direct the SGPC to share unique identification details of saroops printed by it, which would help in tracing those missing. He said the state government would keep Sri Akal Takht Sahib and the SGPC informed about any developments.
CM Mann expressed gratitude to the Jathedar Sahib for providing him with important reference material related to Sikh Rehat Maryada and the Gurdwara Act. He reiterated that it is the collective duty of all Sikhs to uphold the sacrifices and teachings of Sikhism and take them forward with reverence and responsibility.
